Lost Angkorian ruins found in Cambodia

An entire losty city dating back more than 1,200 years has been discovered in the Cambodian jungle.

An Australian-led team of researchers made the discovery by using a new airborne scanning laser technology capable of peering past the canopy and building up a picture of the terrain underneath. Named Mahendraparvata, the lost city is believed to have remained undisturbed for centuries and could be home to temples filled with treasures and artifacts that were never found by looters.

"This is where it all began, giving rise to the Angkor civilization that everyone associates with Angkor Wat," said Damian Evans of the University of Sydney. "With this instrument - bang - all of a sudden we saw an immediate picture of an entire city that no one knew existed, which is just remarkable."

"Archaeologists may have unearthed in the jungles of Cambodia an Atlantis-like city believed to be 1,200 years old."

Well now that they've told everyone that there are unlooted temples there, I'd expect some looting to start. If there is an entire city, they'd need thousands of guards to keep looters out. Otherwise.... super cool!!

I bet they were tipped off by former Khmer Rouge According to our guide in Siem Reap (and signs along the Thai/Cambodian boarder) they are not all former; they are still operating within Cambodia though at a "low level". We were warned that they hold up people for money, but are rarely violent, but I can't confirm this. Our guide who looked to be in his thirties, said both his parents were murdered by the Khmer Rouge as were another Cambodian woman's parents we met a few weeks ago here in the states. Very sad the legacy of communism around the world.

This is actually a very interesting article; I'm sure there are many more temples like this that remain hidden due to the dense forest and I think it's the stuff of movies but I'm distracted by the link halfway down the page that says, "New trend in Japan, eyeball licking". After I saw that I couldn't focus on the article. I'm also thinking if it's really Atlantis like it's in danger of being looted and damaged. Maybe should have waited to announce the discovery but then again... the area is pretty hard to find.

yup.. very cool! So much more will be found using that Airborne Laser and temperature variable sensing tech. The temp vision stuff can see cooler areas above rock walls under Sand for instance. The invisible becomes visible !! *